About the Artist

Susan McDade

Susan’s pieces are created using colored clays that she makes, starting with white clay and mixing in colorants. Each piece begins on the wheel, then she uses techniques such as carving and stretching to reveal a pattern under the surface. The patterns are unique to each piece. Pieces are finished with a clear glaze and fired to cone 6.

While colored clay techniques such as Agateware and Nerikomi are not new to the ceramic world, Susan feels she has found a fresh perspective to these traditional processes. Susan does not look at the colored clay as a finished piece, she feels it is a medium to use as other potters would use glaze as their finishing step. By the time her piece is created, she doesn’t need to add any color, texture or surface enhancement.